Hub-attaching device.



I. s. T. HUB ATTAC E. APPLICATION FILED M 1909. 938,804. PatentedNov.2,1909.

. l. ZA? I l QN if f la* %f f l 1 5. 5 i' 11S/f ik@ A l? UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

IRA S. WEST, OF DIFFICULT, TENNESSEE.

HUB-A'TACHING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA S. Idns'r, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ditlicult, in the county of Smith and State of Tennessee,have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Hub-Attaching Devices, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has for its object to provide means whereby the hub of awagon wheel will be connected with the axle in such a manner that shouldthe usual attaching nut accidentally be lost the wheel cannot come offfrom the axle, so long as it rests on the ground, but may be removed,when desired, when the axle is lifted by a jack, or otherwise, in such amanner as to raise the wheel from the ground or relieve it from weight.To this end the axle is provided on its under side with one or morecurved transverse ribs loosely received in an annular groove or groovesin the interior of a thimble or bushing secured to the hub of a wheel,and which thimble or bushing fits the axle somewhat loosely, so that thewheel may be readily placed on the axle or removed therefrom, but whenit rests on the ground the rib or ribs on the axle will be held in thegroove or grooves of the bushing or thimble, and thus prevent the wheelfrom coming off the axle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section,illustrative of the invention, and with the parts in the positions whichthey will occupy when the wheel is resting on the ground. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, but showing a plurality of ribs and grooves with the partsin the position they will occupy when the axle is lifted to raise thewheel slightly from the ground or relieve it from weight. Fig. 3 is across section on line 3 3, Fig. 1.-

Referring to the drawings, 12 denotes the hub-receiving part of acarriage or wagon axle, and which part is provided on its lower sidewith one or more curved transverse ribs 13, said part having at itsouter end a threaded portion 14 adapted to receive an ordinary attachingnut. Loosely surrounding the axle part 12 is a thimble or sleeve 13provided with an interior annular groove or grooves 16 loosely receivingthe rib or ribs Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 31, 1909.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Serial No. 486,955.

13, the said thimble or sleeve being fitted tightly into the hub portion17 of the wheel. The looseness or play between the axle portion 12 andthe thimble or sleeve 15 is preferably approximately equal to the heightof the rib or ribs 13, in order to permit the wheel to be properlymounted or placed upon or removed from the axle, but such mounting orremoval may be provided for by making the adjacent surfaces of one ofthese parts somewhat eccentric in cross section, instead of exactlycircular.

Then the wheel rests upon the ground or other supporting surface theweight on the wheel will hold the rib or ribs 13 in the annular grooveor grooves 16, so that should the attaching nut be accidentally lost thewheel will be prevented from coming oft from the axle by the engagementof the said rib or ribs in said groove or grooves; but when it isdesired to remove the wheel from the axle the said wheel will berelieved of weight by'lifting the axle with an ordinary jack, orotherwise, and the thimble or bushing and the axle will then occupy therelative positions shown in Fig. Q., with the rib or ribs 13 disengagedfrom t-he groove or grooves 16, and the wheel may then be readilyremoved from the axle, as will be understood.

In addition to the function of retaining the wheel on its axle the riband groove construction of the axle and the thimble or sleeve affordsmeans whereby oil or other lubricant is retained within the wheel hub.

Having thus described my invention I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

The combination with a vehicle axle provided on its lower side with oneor more transverse curved ribs, of a thimble or bushing loosely fittingthe said axle and provided with one or more interior annular groovesreceiving the said rib or ribs, the looseness or play between the saidaxle and the said thimble or bushing being approximately equal to theheight of the said rib or ribs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

IRA S. WEST.

itnesses ROBERT L. BULLARD, GEORGE W. HUBBARD.

